Fencing Installation

Starting this week, safety fencing will go up at the NIC Student Housing Commons site as we prepare to make way for homes for students on campus.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

• Parking: The small parking lot nearest Ryan Road will be unavailable starting on Tuesday, Feb. 7. This will see the removal of 22 parking spots on campus. Plans are in place to replace the spaces this summer. But, for the time being, there is still plenty of parking on campus. If Lot B is full, please explore Lot A on the west side of campus, which usually has empty spaces available – even during peak periods. Please save the Aquatic Centre parking for their patrons only.
• Walking: If you regularly walk the paved loop around campus, you will need to take a detour! The paved path in front of student housing will be blocked for the safety of pedestrians and we ask that you take a detour, up onto Ryan Road and back down through the Aquatic Centre parking lot. Safety signs will be posted on-site to alert path users.
• Vehicle traffic: For your safety, there may be short times where traffic may be affected on College Campus Road (the ring road). The delays will be brief but it might be best to plan to arrive a few minutes early, to get to your class or desk on time.

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Tree removal: Unfortunately, we can’t build student housing without taking down some trees. Thankfully, we’ll still have 2,200 trees remaining on the Comox Valley campus, after the trees come down!
  We are required to remove the trees before bird nesting season begins in March. Since, the K’ómoks First Nation has first right of refusal for the felled trees, you may see representatives of the design-build contractor, the K’ómoks First Nation, NIC Trades programs or Comox Valley Schools on site as we work together to ensure the felled trees go to a good use.
• Walking routes: In the coming months, you’ll see walking NIC path markers that indicate alternative walking routes both here, at the Comox Valley campus, and in Campbell River.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

• Engage.nic.bc.ca: All updates will also be posted on this public site. If you have a question about the project, please reach out: HousingCommons@nic.bc.ca.